City of Seattle NOTE: This news release has been retained for historical use ONLY!  While the text was accurate at the date of the release, the contact information may be out of date.

NEWS ADVISORY
SUBJECT:   Video Voters’ Guides now available on-line & showing on gov’t access channels
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:    10/24/2001  8:15:00 AM	FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Seattle’s TVSea, John Giamberso (206) 684-8328 King County’s CTV, Kim Blankenship (206)296-0300 Katherine Schubert-Knapp  (206) 684-0909 Kathy Sugiyama  (206) 684-0909

Video Voters’ Guides Ready For General Election

SEATTLE – Voters have the opportunity to see the candidates for major offices within King County in "Video Voters’ Guides," now available on-line and on local government access channels.

Beginning Oct. 24, 2001, the entire guide will be cablecast several times on CTV, King County’s government access cable TV channel, and TVSea, Seattle’s government access cable TV channel. Voters can go to this web site for CTV Video Voters’ Guide schedule information: http://www.metrokc.gov/ctv/VVG%20schedule.htm or call 296-0300. Voters can call (206)684-8824 for current TVSea show times or check out TVSea’s weekly schedule at: http://www.cityofseattle.net/TVSea/tvseagrid.html

The entire version of the Seattle guide can be seen as streaming video on TVSea’s web site: http://www2.ci.seattle.wa.us/media/detail.asp?ID=359. You can also view the streaming video of the on-line guides in whole or in part at the city of Seattle’s Ethics and Elections web site: http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/ethics/el01a/report/vpg/vpg_svid.htm

This joint venture of the city of Seattle’s Ethics and Elections Commission, and King County’s Records and Elections Division features candidates and position explanations. The city tape lasts 40 minutes and includes statements by 16 candidates for the following positions:

• City of Seattle: Mayor, City Attorney, City Council (6 positions)
• Seattle School Board: Director (3 positions)

The county tape lasts 40 minutes and includes statements by 14 candidates for the following positions:

• King County: Executive, Sheriff, County Council (9 positions)
• Port of Seattle: Commissioner (3 positions)

The Video Voters’ Guides complement the written Voters’ Guide mailed to all King County voters and it is produced under the same rules as the written guide. Candidates are videotaped in front of the same background with the same lighting and are given two minutes to state the reasons voters should elect them. Staff from Seattle and King County’s government access channels produced the guide.

In addition, copies are available through King County and Seattle library branches. The county tape can also be seen on most local municipal stations, including Renton, Kent, Bellevue, Redmond, Issaquah and Federal Way. Voters can also watch the tapes in TVSea’s "viewing room," located in the basement of the Municipal Building, 600 Fourth Avenue in downtown Seattle.

"Video voters’ guides are great because they offer voters a chance to see the candidates for themselves," says TVSea Manager John Giamberso. "Most people only get to read about the candidates through the Voters’ Pamphlet or other printed materials. With video voters’ guides, you have an opportunity to not only see the candidates, but to hear them speak as well, giving you a better idea of what that person is like and how she or he will represent you."

The city of Seattle and King County have been producing Video Voters’ Guides for general elections since 1993.

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TVSea

CTV

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